As the Boston Fire Department Color Guard presents the colors, Rene Rancourt sings the National Anthem before the game between the Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks at TD Banknorth Garden. (Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports)

Rask, Bruins blank Chicago

By Sports Direct

BOSTON — Patrice Bergeron scored twice to extend his goal-scoring streak to five games and Tuukka Rask recorded his league-best seventh shutout as Boston defeated the Chicago Blackhawks, 3-0, to run its point streak to 14 games.

Rask turned aside 28 shots for his 23rd career shutout to to help the Bruins improve to 13-0-1 in their last 14 games. Bergeron’s second tally — his sixth in the five games — came 13 seconds after Carl Soderberg scored 5 1/2 minutes into the third period as Boston halted a four-game losing streak against Chicago dating to last season’s Stanley Cup Final.

Corey Crawford made 20 saves for the Blackhawks, who were blanked for the second time in three games to dim their chances of catching Central Division-leading St. Louis.Chicago dominated the early going but Bergeron scored the only goal of the opening period at 11:50. Defenseman Matt Bartkowski’s blast from the point was redirected by Bergeron past Crawford for his 24th goal.

Soderberg doubled the lead 5:28 into the third, corralling a loose puck in the slot and burying it before a gaffe by Crawford allowed Boston to score again 13 seconds later. Brad Marchand intercepted the puck from Crawford behind the net and fed Bergeron for an easy conversion, which required a video review after Crawford knocked the net in the air scrambling to get back into the crease.